University of Tennessee Athletics
Thursday, September 2
Tampa, FL
7:00 PM
University of Tennessee
5-0-0, 0-0-0
2
at
0
USF
3-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Tennessee
0
2
2
South Fla.
0
0
0
No. 22 UT Bests No. RV/23 USF, 2-0
September 02, 2021 | Soccer
TAMPA, Fla. – No. 22 Tennessee extended its win streak to five and defeated its first ranked opponent of the season on Thursday, taking a 2-0 victory over a USF team that was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and ranked No. 23 by Top Drawer Soccer.
Redshirt-junior Brooke Wilson and senior Mackenzie George were the goal scorers for UT (5-0-0), while junior Lindsey Romig recorded the shutout in goal. Romig had three saves on the day to stretch UT's streak of shutouts to five.
USF (3-2-0) out-shot Tennessee 18-14, though Tennessee managed 10 shots on target while The Bulls only had three on frame.
"This was a great team win. This is a tough place to play, against a very good opponent - a fantastic possession team. We dug in and showed the toughness that it takes to win big games. We weathered a few USF storms but kept plugging away and kept fighting," said Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky.
"Of course, somebody's got to make a play, and none other than Brooke Wilson stepped up. We're all so darn happy for her! And then Mackenzie George adding that second goal was the dagger we needed. After that, our entire team did a nice job just killing off the game."
The match got off to a slow start, with neither team managing to get a shot off before lightning delayed the game for 30 minutes just under 10 minutes into the contest. South Florida knocked a couple off the crossbar early on after play resumed, and Tennessee fired off seven shots at the other end, but the score remained knotted at zero through the first 45 minutes.
The second half was back and forth until Wilson scored the game-winner in the 73rd minute, driving a ball low and past the keeper. George added another eight minutes later, giving Tennessee some insurance.
"This is a good stepping stone for our team. Showing ourselves that we can go on the road and win tough games. It's nice to be heading back to Knoxville with this win, but we have a quick turnaround and need to start preparing for another good possession team in High Point on Sunday," said Pensky.
UP NEXT: UT returns home to host High Point in a 6:30 p.m. ET contest on Sunday at Regal Stadium. The game will be streamed on SECN+.
450 AND COUNTING: Tennessee has held opponents scoreless for 450 minutes, opening the season with five straight shutouts for the first time in program history.
BRAVO, BACK LINE: Through five contests, UT's defense has limited opposing teams to just 13 shots on goals and 10 corner kicks.
Redshirt-junior Brooke Wilson and senior Mackenzie George were the goal scorers for UT (5-0-0), while junior Lindsey Romig recorded the shutout in goal. Romig had three saves on the day to stretch UT's streak of shutouts to five.
USF (3-2-0) out-shot Tennessee 18-14, though Tennessee managed 10 shots on target while The Bulls only had three on frame.
"This was a great team win. This is a tough place to play, against a very good opponent - a fantastic possession team. We dug in and showed the toughness that it takes to win big games. We weathered a few USF storms but kept plugging away and kept fighting," said Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky.
"Of course, somebody's got to make a play, and none other than Brooke Wilson stepped up. We're all so darn happy for her! And then Mackenzie George adding that second goal was the dagger we needed. After that, our entire team did a nice job just killing off the game."
The match got off to a slow start, with neither team managing to get a shot off before lightning delayed the game for 30 minutes just under 10 minutes into the contest. South Florida knocked a couple off the crossbar early on after play resumed, and Tennessee fired off seven shots at the other end, but the score remained knotted at zero through the first 45 minutes.
The second half was back and forth until Wilson scored the game-winner in the 73rd minute, driving a ball low and past the keeper. George added another eight minutes later, giving Tennessee some insurance.
"This is a good stepping stone for our team. Showing ourselves that we can go on the road and win tough games. It's nice to be heading back to Knoxville with this win, but we have a quick turnaround and need to start preparing for another good possession team in High Point on Sunday," said Pensky.
UP NEXT: UT returns home to host High Point in a 6:30 p.m. ET contest on Sunday at Regal Stadium. The game will be streamed on SECN+.
450 AND COUNTING: Tennessee has held opponents scoreless for 450 minutes, opening the season with five straight shutouts for the first time in program history.
BRAVO, BACK LINE: Through five contests, UT's defense has limited opposing teams to just 13 shots on goals and 10 corner kicks.
Team Stats
TEN
USF
Goals
2
0
Shots
14
18
Shots on Goal
10
3
Saves
3
8
Corners
4
6
Fouls
7
8
Scoring Plays
Brooke Wilson (3)
Assisted By: Jordan Fusco
GOAL by TEN Wilson, Brooke Assist by Fusco, Jordan.
73:25
Mackenzie George (1)
GOAL by TEN George, Mackenzie.
81:45
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
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